GORDON Strachan has received full backing from his players who have reaffirmed their commitment to the Coventry City cause for next season?s first division promotion bid.

The Sky Blue boss gave his players a three-day cooling-off period to think about their futures - and the manager today revealed that not one has come forward with a negative response.

?I have spoken to the players about what we are doing next year and told them that if they felt in any manner that they couldn?t handle that, or there is anything they were not happy with, then they should speak now or forever hold their peace,? said Strachan - who insists the preparation for the new season starts tomorrow against Bradford City.

?I gave them a few days and told them that my office was open and my mobile phone was switched on which gave them an escape hatch or window of opportunity. But that has not been used by anyone - in fact, the reverse happened and people knocked on my door to reaffirm their allegiance to the club, which was an added bonus.

?So anything the fans hear or see in the papers has to be spin because noone wants to leave and everyone is happy to go forward.

?We have cleared the decks on that issue and everyone knows how we are going to play and they are happy with that.?

City have a number of injury problems ahead of tomorrow?s final Premiership game at Highfield Road with John Eustace (knee), Craig Bellamy (Achilles) and Gary Breen (groin), the three key casualties while John Aloisi and David Thompson remain long-term injuries.

?Tomorrow is a game of football that has to be played and one which we want to win,? said the manager, who has drafted in youngsters Callum Davenport and Robert Betts to the squad.

?I want to start the season now and this will be a chance to have a look at one or two people and make sure everyone?s attitude is right for next year. I want to see a reaction and see if they are big enough to handle the disappointment of relegation.

?It is also a chance to thank the fans for their support and the best way we can do that is by winning the game.

?They did very well for us and while we may not be the best team in the world, we felt we gave as good as we could for the last 14 or 15 games and if people stick by us next season, we?ll be all right.?